Techniseal iN Natural Look Sealer: How to Apply It and Coverage

Techniseal iN Paver Sealer Natural Look is a water based impregnating sealer. Techniseal describes it as non film forming: it soaks into pavers and natural stone and shields them from erosion and staining agents without leaving a coating on top and without altering the appearance. The finish is matte with no color enhancement, so the stone looks the way it did before you sealed it.

Because there is no film on the surface, there is no added slickness, and Techniseal specifically recommends iN for hazardous and slip prone areas such as pool decks and steps. This guide covers what iN is, the surfaces Techniseal approves it for, how the job goes, and how much you need, using figures from the Techniseal product literature and our product page. For temperatures, dry times and cure times, the current Techniseal technical data sheet is the reference.

What Techniseal iN Natural Look Sealer is

Techniseal iN Paver Sealer Natural Look protects from inside the stone rather than on top of it. Here is how it compares with a film forming sealer:

Trait	Film forming sealer	Techniseal iN
Where it works	Builds a coating on the surface	Impregnates and protects from within
Appearance	Can change sheen or color	Matte finish, natural look, no color change
Wet surface traction	A film can make a wet surface slicker	No film, recommended by Techniseal for slip prone areas
Poor prep	Can peel or cloud	No coating to peel, cloud or wear through in traffic lanes
Base	Water or solvent	Water based, low odor, easy cleanup

If you are still deciding between finishes, our guide to wet look vs natural look paver sealer walks through the tradeoffs.

Techniseal iN specifications

Specification	Per Techniseal and the product page
Product type	Impregnating paver and stone sealer
Base	Water based
Film type	Non film forming, impregnating
Finish and look	Matte, natural, no color change
Approved surfaces	Natural stone, concrete pavers, concrete slabs, interlocking pavers, wet cast pavers, poured concrete, interior concrete
Recommended for	Hazardous and slip prone areas
Coverage, 1 gallon	Up to 120 sq ft per coat as a concrete paver sealer (two coats mandatory)
Coverage, 5 gallon	Up to 600 sq ft per coat as a concrete paver sealer (two coats mandatory)
Sizes	1 gallon, 5 gallon

Techniseal's data sheet makes two coats mandatory. Temperature limits, dry time and cure time are not listed on our product page. Check the manufacturer data sheet in our TDS and SDS library before you start.

Where to use it (and where not to)

iN is the choice where surface traction matters or where a film would look wrong. Good fits include:

• Pool decks and pool surrounds
• Steps, stairs and landings
• Sloped patios and driveways
• Natural stone where a surface film would look out of place
• Wet cast and cast stone surfaces
• Poured concrete patios and walkways, and interior concrete floors

Interior concrete being on the approved list is unusual for a hardscape sealer, so iN can cover an indoor slab and the patio outside it. Where iN is the wrong product:

• You want richer color. iN is not a color enhancer. Techniseal CB+ or JS boost color instead, and on concrete pavers JSW does too with a wet look.
• You need the joint sand stabilized. iN is a surface protector, not a joint stabilizer. NS, JS and JSW stabilize sand and aggregate joints.
• The surface is dirty or damp. An impregnating sealer locks in whatever is there, so do not apply it over dirt or moisture.

How to use Techniseal iN

Follow the official Techniseal instructions on the label and data sheet. This is the shape of the job:

1. Clean the surface thoroughly. The product page pairs iN with Techniseal HD Paver Prep to clean and prep the surface first. Our article on how to clean pavers before sealing covers the sequence.
2. Let it dry completely. Do not seal a damp surface.
3. Test first on unusual or valuable stone. Our 8 oz iN sample lets you check the result on your actual material. We fill these bottles ourselves; it is our service, not a Techniseal package.
4. Apply evenly. Apply per the technical data sheet, letting the sealer penetrate rather than building a coat.
5. Remove the excess. Take off any sealer that has not absorbed within the time specified by Techniseal.
6. Respect the cure time on the data sheet before returning the surface to use.

The most common mistake with an impregnating sealer is applying it like a film sealer and leaving the excess to dry on the surface. Excess that has not soaked in needs to come off. For general timing and prep, see how to seal pavers and how long to wait after sealing pavers, and let the iN data sheet overrule anything general.

How much Techniseal iN you need

Techniseal makes two coats mandatory and publishes single coat coverage of up to 120 sq ft per gallon and up to 600 sq ft per 5 gallon pail as a concrete paver sealer (up to 200 sq ft per gallon per coat on poured concrete). For a 480 sq ft patio of concrete pavers, that works out to at least 4 gallons per coat, or at least 8 gallons for the two coats, at the published maximum rate.

Treat those figures as a ceiling. Coverage on an impregnating sealer depends heavily on how porous the surface is, because the product soaks in rather than sitting on top. A dense wet cast paver and an open natural stone will absorb very different amounts. Test on your material, scale from there, and run your square footage through the paver sealer coverage calculator. Call us if you want a hand with the estimate.

Safety and storage

iN is water based, which means lower odor, easier cleanup and no solvent handling. For protective equipment, ventilation and storage conditions, read the Techniseal safety data sheet, listed in our TDS and SDS library, and follow the label.

Frequently asked questions

Will iN make my pool deck slippery?

Techniseal specifically recommends iN for hazardous and slip prone areas, because it is non film forming and does not add a coating to the surface.

Will it change the color of my stone?

No. iN is a natural look, matte finish sealer with no color enhancement. If you want the color boosted, look at Techniseal CB+, JS or JSW.

Can I use iN indoors?

Yes. Interior concrete and poured concrete are both on the Techniseal approved surface list for iN.

Does iN stabilize joint sand?

No. iN is a surface protector. For joint stabilization, Techniseal offers NS, JS and JSW.

How is iN different from Techniseal NS?

NS forms a protective film and stabilizes joints on concrete pavers. iN penetrates instead, adds no film, works on natural stone too, and suits slip prone areas.